Fried rice cake is a favorite snack in childhood. Mother chooses good glutinous rice, washes it clean and soaks it all night. Early the next morning, after draining the water, put the glutinous rice into a wok and stir-fry until the rice grains become golden and crisp. At this time, the rice cakes are full of fragrance, which makes people drool. Then, my mother poured the fried rice cakes into a big basin, added white sugar and maltose while they were hot, and quickly stirred them evenly. After the rice cakes are slightly cooled, my mother will rub the rice cakes into strips with both hands, and then cut the long rice cakes into small pieces, and the round fried rice cakes will be ready.
Compared with fried rice cakes, fried sugar rings are more complicated. Mother first kneaded the dough with glutinous rice flour, warm water and sugar, then kneaded the dough into strips and cut it into small doses of uniform size. Next, the small dose is rubbed into a slender strip, and the two ends are pinched together to form a ring. Fry the sugar rings in hot oil until golden brown, and then take out and drain the oil. The candy ring just out of the pot is crisp and sweet, which makes people want to stop.
Mother always likes to ask me for help when frying sugar rings. I am responsible for rubbing the cut small dose into long strips. Although this process is a bit cumbersome, I am also eager to see my mother skillfully put the sugar rings into the oil pan. When my mother saw this, she patiently taught me how to pinch sugar rings. At first, the sugar rings I pinched were in different shapes and scattered in the oil pan. My mother didn't blame me, but encouraged me to keep trying. Gradually, the sugar rings I pinched became more and more decent and could be put into the oil pan completely. I can't tell you how happy I am when I look at the candy ring that I personally fried.
As the sugar rings rolled in the boiling oil pan, the room was filled with a sweet smell. My mother told me the story of Chinese New Year while frying candy rings. She said that in the past, during the Chinese New Year, the conditions at home were not good, and sugar rings were a rare delicacy. Children can only eat it during the Spring Festival, so they cherish it. Mom's words made me have a deeper understanding of this candy ring. It is not only delicious as a child, but also carries the family's wishes and good wishes for the New Year.
Now, I have grown up, but the taste of childhood remains the same. Every twelfth lunar month, I always think of the aroma of fried rice cakes and the sizzling sound of fried sugar rings in the oil pan. They are not only childhood memories, but also the sustenance of family reunion. At the moment of saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new year, I will take this memory with me to feel the strong flavor of the new year with my family and welcome the arrival of the new year.